Of marketing, society, behavior, and everything in between

Monthly Archives: September 2012

Business has taken quite the turn in the United States in the past few decades. The country went from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-based economy. From there it can be said it turned further into a consumption-based economy. Now markets plummet when “consumers aren’t opening their wallets.”

Yay industrialization?

This didn’t use to be the case. Even before the Industrial Revolution, business in the U.S. and beyond was surviving. How?

Bartering.

Yes, people made goods or provided services in exchange for other goods or services. For example, a grocer/farmer may trade their yield for clothing. In modern times, a farmer may have traded certain crops for a haircut, accounting services or even medical attention.

Would I blow your mind if I told that in 2012, yes in our modern age, bartering is making a comeback?

Harvard Business Review (HBR) blog network contributor talk about this very topic. Of course our society had to modernize the inferior term of bartering, today the activity is known as “reciprocal trade.” The article even links to the International Reciprocal Trade Association. According to the IRTA, over 400,000 businesses and $12 Billion dollars worldwide can be linked to bartering.

Is this a good thing? Is it a bad thing?

It’s hard to say. Businesses need to be diverse and adaptable in order to stay in business. Participating in barter exchanges may open businesses up to new markets and partners whom they would have missed. But it is very interesting to see that over 400,000 businesses worldwide are avoiding the use of “real currency”, i.e. American Dollar, Euro, and the like, in exchange for tangible goods and services.

I would even venture to say that barter exchanges could be more sustainable internationally than trying to figure out which currency in which to do business. Think about it; in accounting assets are always more valuable than cash-on-hand. Bartering, in that simple analogy, makes sense.

As a marketing guy, I immediately thought of how this throwback business practice would work in the marketing and advertising industry. Would I be willing to offer my services to Tesla Motors for, let’s say, its newest coup model?

I could work for that.

But then I thought, what would I do for food, utility bills and entertainment cash? As sweet as the car would be, bartering my services for a car doesn’t fulfill my needs like the Almighty Dollar.

Our society is not built for barter exchanges. But if this could serve as a “black swan“, we should stay alert for systemic changes that would better suit such economies.

Long time no see, ol’ blog. According to the count I see on my LinkedIn page, it’s been a little longer than 160 days.

Yikes.

It’s been a busy time for me.

I’m still trying to make JDW: The Charlotte Agency work, and it has been full of its ups and downs. We’re working on a sports & entertainment spinoff from the marketing component, so more details on that as it develops. I got certified as a U.S. soccer referee, still doing multiple Charlotte YMCA activities, as well as Sportslink, and all in the meantime continually falling for my girlfriend and raising a puppy.

Also, just came back from seeing a good friend marry his sweetheart (congrats again Jeff!)*

I’m still trying to figure out this whole “adult” thing.

And then, the DNC comes to Charlotte.

As I’m writing this, day one of the Democratic National Convention has just begun. Bill Clinton has yet to take the stage on Day 2, and Obama has not yet accepted the nomination on Day 3.

Rumor has it that he will.

I’ve been in Charlotte since late 2008. In this period of time, I have seen Charlotte attempt to figure out this whole “international city” thing. It has been pretty fun to watch.

It’s brought multiple professional sports teams to the area. It’s bolstering up its downtown/uptown area. The startup community is ripe with young, energetic and bright entrepreneurs. Not to mention Charlotte is luring other FORTUNE 500 companies away from other cities (welcome again, Chiquita) And the city people do not want to be the next Atlanta- they want to be better than Atlanta.

I see you, Charlotte.

Then boom: Charlotte beats out Denver, Cleveland and some other city to win the DNC bid.

And rumors for a potential Olympics bid have already started to float around.

Charlotte is growing up and its maturity, so far, is looking good. The city is making the right decisions, attracting the right people, and desiring the right things.

But is it ready for the international spotlight already? Is it prepared to host the convention where the first (half) black american president announces his re-election? Can Charlotte aptly prepare America to move “Forward?”

Like in business, and in life, only time will tell.

*He gets the shoutout because he tells me he reads the blog. See what happens?